Opinion

Canada’s smoky gift to NYC: Letters to the Editor — June 10, 2023

The Issue: Large quantities of smoke from Canadian wildfires that spread over the East Coast this week.

As a Californian, I give all in New York City and beyond the line from “Die Hard”: “Welcome to the party, pal!” (“Blame Canada,” June 8)

We’ve had the same problem with wildfire♔s for years. The cause is the same: Poor forest management that kowtows to environmentalists, leaving tons of debris and fuel on the forest floor just waiting to be changed from tinder to conflagration by a lightning strike, some idiot with a cigarette or a live wire igniting a tree.

But we don’t panic because we know that it’s te✅mporary. The trippy sunsets and sunrises that resemble Krypton will leave when the fires are put out or it rains, whichever comes first.

Climate change? Not hardly. Bad policy sets the stage for the destruction of thousands of acres of forest annually. Clean out the dead stuff, a💦nd there’s nothing to burn.

Smokey Bear says: ꧟“Only you can prevent forest fires.” He should preface that with, “Idiots are in charge, but . . .” Hang🀅 in there, New York.

J. Brotnov

Fresno, Calif.

If we can learn anything from the devastating and debilitating Canadia෴n forest fires, which are significantly 🗹affecting both Canada the United States, it’s that we need to bring back traditional, proven forest management with finely controlled burning.

And the parks and forest departments need stricter restrictionꦯs on visitors regardiᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚng camp fires, including digital alert systems for weather conditions and heavy fines/jail time for those who knowingly choose to put the people and the planet at risk.

Enough is enough already. This is long overdue.

N. Albanese

New Rochelle

This wꦜeek’s foul air and smoke pollution are not due to c💟arbon or fossil-fuel emissions.

It is caused by smoke from the uncontrolled Canadian wildfires, which are naturally occurring because of Canada’s failure to do regular controlled forest-fires t🌊o clear out its underbrush a﷽nd open up the forests.

What’s not helpful during this cᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚrisis is the “hot air” coming from politicians like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who are using the forest-fire smoke to further their climate-control agenda.

🅺This is disingenuous and certainly does not promote an honest climate-control discussion.

Harold Fishman

Manhattan

I was insulted reading your rece𝐆ntꦆ headline: “Blame Canada” for the smoke.

I live in Vancouver, Canada. In the last eight to 10 years, there have𝄹 been summers when the air quality here has been worse than the air 🍎quality in Bombay.

This poor air quality was due to forest fires in C𓂃alifornia, Oregon or Washington. And that occurs every two to three summers.

Climate change is to blame. Every country in the world has not reached their goals in reducing their emissions, the United States as much as Can🅺ada.

Johanne Sabourin

Vancouver, Canada

The air quality on June 7 was hazardous for everyone in New York City because of the wildfire⛎ in C🦹anada. It was especially dangerous for the elderly and young people.

If anything, our mayor and governor took too long to address thiಌs. If they were truly on top of the problem, they shouldꩵ have had only essential personnel report to work.

I was watching kids let outꦚ of school that afternoon, and I saw them struggle to get home due to the smoke-filled air. Students could have also been let 𒊎out much earlier as another alternative.

When faced with sᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚuch an adverse condition, real leadership must be show✨n — not leaders dropping the ball.

Joseph Comperchio

Brooklyn

You’ve got to be kidding. “Blame Canada”? Did Canada blame the United States for Washington’s wilไdfire smoke last year?

Stop the divisive scapegoating and start addressing wildfire causes — fossil-fuel production, gre🌠enhous🎶e-gas emissions and climate change.

Pamela FitzGerald

Ottawa, Canada

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